Can-opener



(No Model.)

F. O. 'SMALSTIG 8c G. MAYER.

' CAN OPENER.

Patented Aug. 4, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK C. SMALSTIG AND GABRIEL MAYER, OF ALLEGHENY,

' PENNSYLVANIA.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,367, dated August4, 1896.

Application filed February 18, 1896. Serial No. 579,782. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FREDERICK C. SMAL- STIG and GABRIEL MAYER, ofAllegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Openers; and we dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention pertains to canopeners, and its object is to provide adevice of simple and improved form in which the turning-point and cutterare held in fixed relative positions by frictional contact caused by theforward pressure upon the cutter in moving it around the can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener of thesimplest possible form in which screws, springs, and other auxiliarydevices are entirely dispensed with, the whole instrument, as hereinshown and described,consisting only of three parts,namely, the handle,the turning stem, and the cutter, the cutter being held in position uponthe handle at all times whether in use or out of use by the turningstem, with the latter held automatically from detachment from thehandle.

WVith these objects in view our invention consists in novel features ofconstruction hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated bythe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view ofour device as applied to a can. Fig. 2 is an inverted perspective viewwith the several parts of the cutter removed or separated. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional View of the implement ready for use. Fig. 4 is asimilar view showing the relative parts of the implement when beingsecured together.

The handle A is formed with the longitudinal passage-way extendinginward from one end, the integral cross-ribs B and C constituting thebottom of said passage-way, and head D and rib E its top. Head Boverhangs the end of the handle portion, and recessed up: ward in linewith said end, as indicated at F,

and fitting snugly within the recess F and abutting squarely against thehandle end is the knife G, formed with the transverse opening H.

Turning stem I has the usual point at its extremity J to form aturningpoint in the can-top center, while the opposite end of the stemcarries the slight upward bend or lug K. In assembling the parts of theimplement the knife G is first positioned at the end of the handle andfitted snugly at its upper end in depression F, the opening H continuingor being in line with the longitudinal passageway of the handle. Thestem, which is preferably formed of material affording slight lateralspring, is then inserted through the knifeopening H and passed backwardover bars B and C until its upturned extremity comes in contact with thedownwardly-sloping under surface of rib E, as indicated in Fig. 4. Thisconstruction, however, necessitates only a slight depression of theturning stem in order to pass point Kbeneath said rib, as in Fig. 3, aslight rap upon the end of the handle with the pointed end of the stemon the table or bench being sufficient to spring the stem in place. Theinner surface of lug K inclines with relation to the plane of stem I, sothat to disconnect the stem from the handle a stout pull will draw lug Jbeneath rib E and permit the entire withdrawal of the stem.

By constructing an opener as herein shown it may be moved either rightor left at the convenience of the user, the forward pressure upon thehandle clamping the stem thereto and at the same time holding the kniferigidly in place.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a can-opener, the combination of the handle having the overhangingportion D at one end formed with the transverse depression F, the handlebeing formed with a longitudinal cavity, cutter G at its upper endfitting depression F, said cutter formed with a passage-way adapted toaline with the handle-cavity, and the turning stem adapted to movelongitudinally in the handle-cavity and through the opening in thecutter, said turning stem holding the cutter from displacestem which isadapted to pass the said rib by springing the stem laterally whereby thestem is held from withdrawal, substantially as I5 shown and described.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twoWitnesses.

FREDERICK O. SMALSTIG. GABRIEL MAYER.

Witnesses:

J. B. PAUL, A. K. STEVENSON.

